26251 replies to this topic

[Midnightly]

Is BC really around 75% of adults have the 1st dose?  So much higher than most countries may reach... Seems high...

when i hear the percentage of youth (12-17yr olds) who have had the first dose i'll admit it does seem fairly high.. especially considering that it only opened up for that age group a few weeks ago, i booked my daughter's appointment on the first day taking the first available time slot.. which is tomorrow

[Barrrister]

I thunk it is now time to get second shots into people over sixty since they represent the vast bulk of people both dying and being hospitalized, It is vital to get the hospital load down as much as possible in order to allow the hospitals a chance to catch up on everything else that has been put on hold.

[amor de cosmos]

The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) plays an essential role in processing viral proteins needed for replication. In addition, the enzyme can cut and inactivate some human proteins important for an immune response. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Infectious Diseases have found other targets of PLpro in the human proteome, including proteins involved in cardiovascular function, blood clotting and inflammation, suggesting a link between the inactivation of these proteins and COVID-19 symptoms.
 
Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 make multiple proteins as one long "polyprotein." Viral enzymes called proteases recognize specific amino acid sequences in this polyprotein and cut them to release individual proteins. However, some human proteins also contain these sequences (known as homologous host-pathogen sequences, or SSHHPS), including ones involved in generating the innate immune response, which could help protect the virus from the host. Patricia Legler and colleagues wanted to comprehensively identify human proteins that contain SSHHPS, examine their functions and see whether PLpro can cleave them in a test tube.
 
The researchers developed a computational method to search a database of all known human proteins for sequences similar or identical to the SARS-CoV-2 SSHHPS. The analysis revealed that the proteins with highest sequence identity were those that had cardiovascular, inflammatory, kidney, respiratory or blood-related functions. For example, two of the proteins containing SSHHPS were cardiac myosins, one was an anti-coagulant and another was an anti-inflammatory protein. Inactivation of these proteins by PLpro is consistent with COVID-19 symptoms of heart damage, blood clots and inflammation. The team confirmed that PLpro could cut these protein sequences in vitro. Performing the same analysis on SSHHPS for the Zika viral protease identified proteins associated with neurological development and disorders, consistent with Zika symptoms. These results suggest that the symptoms and virulence of viruses can be predicted directly from their genomic sequences, the researchers say.

https://phys.org/new...esponsible.html
 

A new review published in the Journal of Internal Medicine indicates that unmasked speech in confined spaces poses the greatest risk of spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to others.
 
The focus of the review is on the interface between physics and medicine, and it describes how different sized respiratory droplets emitted while speaking span a continuum of sizes and can carry different amounts of virus. Most concerning are intermediate-sized droplets that remain suspended in air for minutes and can be transported over considerable distances by convective air currents.

https://www.eurekale...w-sdd060721.php
 

In March 2020, a group of renowned evolutionary virologists analyzed the genome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 and found it was overwhelmingly likely that this virus had never been manipulated in any laboratory. Like the earlier coronaviruses SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, they theorized, it “spilled over” from its natural reservoir host (bats) to a new one (humans). Viruses jump species frequently, with unpredictable consequences. Often a virus hits an evolutionary dead end if it cannot adapt to the new host rapidly enough to be transmitted again. Sometimes, however, it can. Clues that reveal this scenario can be found by analyzing the sequence of the virus genome, and that’s exactly what this study did.

The study carefully examined whether key elements of the virus, particularly the spike protein on its surface, appeared engineered. They did not. The spike didn’t optimally bind to its receptor, ACE-2, and the interaction between the two proteins was unpredictable even using the most advanced computer algorithms. Another key feature often cited as evidence of laboratory origin is the furin cleavage site, where the spike protein is cut in half to “activate” viral material for entry into cells. The viruses most closely related to SARS-CoV-2 don’t have this site, but many others do, including other human coronaviruses. The furin site of SARS-CoV-2 has odd features that no human would design. Its sequence is suboptimal, meaning its cleavage by the enzyme furin is relatively inefficient. Any skilled virologist hoping to give a virus new properties this way would insert a furin site known to be more efficient. The SARS-CoV-2 site has more of the hallmarks of sloppy natural evolution than a human hand. Indeed, a timely analysis last year showed convincingly that it is a product of genetic recombination, a natural feature of coronavirus replication and evolution.

Unfortunately, the pandemic has provided many opportunities to observe SARS-CoV-2 evolution in humans as it unfolds — and confidence in its natural origin has grown over time. The molecular handshake between SARS-CoV-2 and ACE-2, seemingly unique in early 2020, turns out to be found in several related viruses and has since evolved to be a better fit. Its ability to infect human cells also turns out to be unremarkable. A related virus discovered in pangolins infects human cells even more readily than SARS-CoV-2. The virus behind the pandemic may be special in its impact on our lives and the global economy, but the way it infects us isn’t unique at all.

https://www.washingt...cf4b_story.html
 

As G7 ministers prepare to meet this week in Cornwall, U.K., there are renewed calls to increase global vaccine manufacturing, as well as rising concerns over a "two-track pandemic" favouring wealthier nations as vaccinations in poorer countries lag.
 
The World Health Organization (WHO) has long said that the pandemic ends when everyone is vaccinated against COVID-19, and it initially hoped to have 20 per cent of the global population inoculated by the end of 2021. That is looking less and less achievable, since 88 per cent of the world has not yet had a single dose, and delivering the vaccine to many populations in need is being hampered by politics and nationalism.

"I'd be worried about the 39 or 40 countries that have vaccinated only one per cent of their population," said Rohinton Medhora, president of the Centre for International Governance Innovation, citing concerns over newer variants that could arise. 
 
"These might not be countries that are on the tips of tongues of Canadians and Americans every day. But as I've said before, this is where the bad things will emanate from." 
 
Achal Prabhala, who studies access to medicines with AccessIBSA in Bangalore, India, notes a point towards the end of May when the pandemic's course changed. COVID-19 deaths were initially higher in wealthier countries, perhaps because they tend to have older populations. But as vaccines became available and were scooped up by richer nations, death rates dropped below those in lower-income countries for the first time. The poorest countries with the weakest infrastructure are now seeing the most deaths and illness.
 
Prior to that point, the world "was experiencing the same problem," Prabhala said.

https://www.cbc.ca/n...upply-1.6056550

Over 800 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered in China
http://www.ecns.cn/n...nf8952109.shtml
 
Unused Johnson & Johnson Covid Doses Are Piling Up as FDA Waits to See if Shelf Life Can Be Extended
https://khn.org/news...ration-backlog/
 
A Cleveland-based doctor argued against Covid vaccinations during a Tuesday Ohio State Health committee hearing in a most peculiar way. She claimed that vaccinations are “magnetized” and that metal objects such as keys, forks, and spoons can stick to vaccinated people. Oh, and she prefaced that comment by noting “I’m sure you’ve seen it on the Internet.”
https://www.mediaite...tick-to-people/

A US pharmacist has been jailed for three years after pleading guilty to tampering with hundreds of Moderna coronavirus vaccines, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.
https://www.rawstory...-with-vaccines/

[Victoria Watcher]

Quebec reports 178 new COVID-19 cases; 4th straight day with fewer than 200 infections

https://montreal.ctv...tions-1.5462673

Ontario reports 469 new COVID-19 cases, lowest daily increase since late September

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 June 2021 - 07:14 AM.

[sukika]

when i hear the percentage of youth (12-17yr olds) who have had the first dose i'll admit it does seem fairly high.. especially considering that it only opened up for that age group a few weeks ago, i booked my daughter's appointment on the first day taking the first available time slot.. which is tomorrow

 

Parents were allowed to bring their children with them to their vaccination appointments without booking an appointment when they lowered the age restrictions.  I received my first dose on the 22nd and saw a few families there.  

[Victoria Watcher]

UK adult vaccination percentage

77.3 1st
54.3 2nd

[Victoria Watcher]

Manitoba is putting up $2 million in cash and scholarships as lottery prizes for anyone 12 and older who has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 2 and two by Sept. 6.

The prizes will be awarded in two draws. Each draw will award three prizes of $100,000 in the Winnipeg health region, and one $100,000 prize in each of the Prairie Mountain, Southern, Interlake-Eastern and Northern health regions.

https://www.cbc.ca/n...tives-1.6058815








why don’t they just hand out a lotto max ticket at each vaccination? $70 million.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 June 2021 - 08:33 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

At least one major movie theatre company is opening its doors next week, as part of B.C.’s continued COVID-19 restart plan.

 

Cineplex Theatres has announced movies will be back on the big screens Tuesday, June 15.

 

“We recognize the new appreciation our guests have for the theatrical experience and we can’t wait to welcome them back to our theatres, as nothing compares to the big screen and big sound that we’ve been missing for so long,” said Sarah Van Lange, executive director of communications.

 

As part of reopening, Cineplex will be showing highly anticipated new releases, including A Quiet Place Part 2* and Cruella**.

 

 

 

https://www.vicnews....ning-next-week/

 

 

* 91/93% at Rotten Tomatoes

** 74/97% at Rotten Tomatoes

[Victoria Watcher]

Quebec reports 178 new COVID-19 cases; 4th straight day with fewer than 200 infections

https://montreal.ctv...tions-1.5462673

Ontario reports 411 new COVID-19 cases, lowest daily increase since late September

 

 

The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate is 11.5 per cent provincially and 12.3 per cent in Winnipeg. As of 9:30 a.m. today, 250 new cases of the virus have been identified. The total number of lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba to 53,403.

 

https://news.gov.mb....sted=2021-06-09

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 June 2021 - 10:49 AM.

[Rob Randall]

NYT: The Chinese city of Guangzhou tested practically its entire population of 18.7 million between Sunday and Tuesday, and put more than 180,000 residents into total lockdown as it deals with a new Covid outbreak that officials blame on the Delta variant.

[Sparky]

^ That is a lot of tests.

[Rob Randall]

^It's equal to the population of Ontario and BC. Just one city. Staggering.

[Victoria Watcher]

Alberta:

 

 

 

• The province reported 313 new cases and five more deaths on Wednesday. Active cases fell to 4,204.

https://www.cbc.ca/n...une-9-1.6058911

[spanky123]

^It's equal to the population of Ontario and BC. Just one city. Staggering.

 

That is why they have effectively bypassed covid and their economy is roaring. Trample a few human rights for a while perhaps but save the greater community.

[Victoria Watcher]

COVID-19 numbers continue to fall as B.C. records 148 new cases and 3 more deaths

 

195 people in hospital, 47 in intensive care

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...une-9-1.6059275

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 09 June 2021 - 02:41 PM.

[amor de cosmos]

Professor Ángel Serrano, principal investigator at the Biomaterials and Bioengineering Laboratory of the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV), recently published an article in journal ACS Nano, from the American Chemical Society, which shows that carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) with low or zero toxicity for humans, are "promising treatments" against the pneumonia caused by COVID-19, as well as other viruses, bacteria and fungi, including those that are multi-resistant to medicines.
 
Serrano and his fellow researchers from the group have reviewed scientific literature on the antiviral activity and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties of carbon-based nanomaterials such as fullerene, carbon dots, graphene and its by-products. In their research, they have verified that CBNs have antiviral activity against 13 positive single-stranded RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
 
As well as its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to induce tissue regeneration, the mode of action of CBNs is "mainly physical" and is characterized by a low risk of antimicrobial resistance.

https://phys.org/new...ov-viruses.html
 

Q: Why is it so important to determine the origins of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19?
 
We need this information to prevent future coronavirus pandemics. COVID-19 is the third serious coronavirus infection in this new century. There was SARS in 2002, MERS in 2012 and now COVID-19. A bottom line is that Mother Nature is already warning us that a new serious coronavirus epidemic is going to appear every eight to 10 years. And we should be ready.

Could COVID-19 have first originated in the laboratory and been leaked as it was being studied? Yes, but I feel such scenarios are less likely.
 
We still don’t know why or how this novel coronavirus emerged, or fully understand the interplay of different factors: animal hosts, urbanization, expanding deforestation and perhaps climate change may be driving the increased contact between humans and animals – or the ability of viruses to leap from animals to humans.
 
The ecosystem of animals, humans and disease is sometimes referred to as ‘one health,’ and designing one-health interventions against future coronavirus pandemics depends on having detailed knowledge of how coronaviruses first arise and jump to people.
 
The only way to do this is to investigate the true origins of COVID-19. There’s some evidence from John Brownstein’s group at Harvard that COVID-19 might have first appeared in humans as early as late summer 2019. Brownstein is a researcher who uses infomatics tools to predict patterns of virus outbreaks. According to some newspaper reports, the first actual case of COVID-19 might have been diagnosed in November 2019, but Brownstein’s work suggests to me the possibility that the virus may have been circulating months before.

There is a way to resolve this: We need to establish an interdisciplinary team of scientists, both from China and internationally, in order to exhaustively test wild animal species, including bats, and possibly domestic animals, such as livestock, to reveal the potential animal origins of COVID-19. In parallel, such groups should conduct an extensive outbreak investigation to trace the initial human cases of COVID-19 and their early contacts.

For instance, did COVID-19 jump only once from animals to humans or were there multiple events, and over what period of time? Could these processes have been occurring for several months or even longer? And what is it about China – Guangdong province for SARS 2002-03, and Hubei province for SARS-CoV-2 in 2019 – that created the perfect storm of conditions to promote the emergence of these coronaviruses in humans?

etc
https://health.usnew...navirus-origins
 

Da gibt es ja die These: Dieses Virus könnte aus einem Labor entwichen sein. Dafür spricht, dass Sars-2 für den Menschen besonders ansteckend ist. Bis jetzt kann man nicht erklären, wie es mittels natürlicher Selektion dazu kam. Bei Mers und Sars kann man das ja. Dann gibt es die These, dass das Virus auf chinesischen Pelz­farmen mutiert ist. Herr Drosten, woher kam dieses Virus?
Ich denke auch in die Richtung der Pelz­industrie. Diese Labor­hypothese, die gibt es natürlich. Wenn man diese rein technisch betrachtet, wenn man einfach das Genom anschaut, ist das im Rahmen des Möglichen. Ich kann aber sagen: Ich kenne die Techniken sehr genau, die man bräuchte, um ein Virus auf diese Art zu verändern. Wenn jemand auf diese Weise Sars-2 entwickelt hätte, dann würde ich sagen, der hat das ziemlich umständlich gemacht. Das hätte man sich nicht so schwer machen müssen.
 
Wie meinen Sie das?
Es gibt ja eigentlich zwei Labor­thesen. Die eine wäre Böswilligkeit, dass also jemand absichtlich ein solches Virus konstruiert hat. Die andere wäre der Forschungs­unfall, dass also trotz guter Absicht und Wissbegierde ein Experiment schief­gegangen ist. Das Böswillige, also ehrlich gesagt: Da müssen Sie mit Geheim­dienstlern drüber reden. Ich kann das als Wissenschaftler nicht beurteilen.
 
Und was ist mit dem Forschungs­unfall?
Wenn man sich jetzt überlegen würde, man wollte bestimmte Dinge ändern: Da ist die sogenannte furin cleavage site, die Furin-Spaltstelle, eine genetische Eigenschaft des Stachel­proteins des Virus, das Auffälligste.
 
Die furin cleavage site: Sie sorgt bei Sars-2 dafür, dass das Virus besser in die menschliche Zelle eindringen kann?
Ja, genau. Also, wir stellen uns vor, jemand wollte schauen, was denn passiert, wenn man einem Corona­virus diese furin cleavage site verpasst, die man von den Influenza­viren kennt: Wird es dadurch bösartiger? Hierfür würde ich das Sars-1-Virus nehmen, und zwar in einer Form, die ich im Labor auch verändern kann. Also einen DNA-Klon. Verstehen Sie mich?
 
Wir versuchen es. Erklären Sie es uns.
Man kann ein Virus nicht einfach in eine Glasschale legen, und schon macht man damit irgend­welche Experimente. So einen DNA-Klon aus einem Virus aufzubauen, das bedeutet zwei bis drei Jahre molekular­biologische Arbeit. Solche Klone haben Forscherinnen im Übrigen ja auch tatsächlich gemacht aus dem ursprünglichen Sars-1-Virus. Hätte man im Labor also eine Art Sars-2 entwickeln wollen, dann hätte man Änderungen, zum Beispiel diese furin site, in so einen Sars-1-Klon eingefügt. Um so herauszufinden: Macht diese Anpassung das Sars-Virus ansteckender? Aber das war hier nicht der Fall. Der ganze Backbone des Virus ist anders: Sars-2 ist voller Abweichungen zum ursprünglichen Sars-1-Virus.
 
Was bedeutet das: Der ganze Backbone ist anders?
Lassen Sie es mich mit einem Bild erklären: Um etwa zu überprüfen, ob Anpassungen das Virus ansteckender machen, würde ich ein bestehendes System nehmen, da die Änderung einbauen und das dann vergleichen mit dem alten System. Wenn ich wissen will, ob ein neues Autoradio den Klang verbessert, dann nehme ich ein bestehendes Auto und tausche da das Radio aus. Dann vergleiche ich. Ich baue dafür nicht ein komplett neues Auto. Genau so war das aber bei Sars-2: Das ganze Auto ist anders.
 
Und das bedeutet?
Diese Idee eines Forschungs­unfalls ist für mich ausgesprochen unwahrscheinlich, weil es viel zu umständlich wäre. Die Idee eines böswilligen Einsatzes irgendeines Geheimdienst­labors irgendwo: Wenn überhaupt, dann käme so etwas wohl nicht aus dem Wuhan-Virologie-Institut. Das ist ein seriöses akademisches Institut.
 
Was ist für Sie das Plausibelste?
Karnivoren­zucht. Die Pelzindustrie.
 
Warum?
Ich habe dafür keinerlei Belege, ausser die klar belegte Herkunft von Sars-1, und das hier ist ein Virus der gleichen Spezies. Viren der gleichen Spezies machen die gleichen Sachen und haben häufig die gleiche Herkunft. Bei Sars-1, das ist wissenschaftlich dokumentiert, waren die Übergangs­wirte Marder­hunde und Schleich­katzen. Das ist gesichert. Ebenfalls gesichert ist, dass in China Marder­hunde in grossem Stil in der Pelz­industrie verwendet werden. Wenn Sie irgendwo eine Jacke kaufen mit Pelzkragen, ist das chinesischer Marder­hund, fast ohne jede Ausnahme. Und jetzt kann ich Ihnen sagen, dass es keinerlei Studien gibt in der wissenschaftlichen Literatur – keinerlei –, welche die Frage beleuchten, ob Marderhund-Zucht­bestände oder auch andere Karnivoren-Zucht­bestände, Nerze zum Beispiel, in China dieses Virus, Sars-2, tragen.
 
There is the thesis: This virus could have escaped from a laboratory. This is supported by the fact that Sars-2 is particularly contagious for humans. So far it is not possible to explain how this came about through natural selection. You can do that with Mers and Sars. Then there is the thesis that the virus has mutated on Chinese fur farms. Mr. Drosten, where did this virus come from?
I am also thinking in the direction of the fur industry. This laboratory hypothesis does exist, of course. If you look at it from a purely technical point of view, if you just look at the genome, that's within the realms of possibility. But I can say: I know the techniques very well that you would need to change a virus in this way. If someone had developed Sars-2 in this way, I would say they made it pretty awkward. It shouldn't have been so difficult.
 
What do you mean?
There are actually two laboratory theses. One would be malice that someone has intentionally constructed such a virus. The other would be the research accident, that in spite of good intentions and curiosity an experiment went wrong. The malicious thing, to be honest: you have to talk to the secret service about it. As a scientist, I cannot judge that.
 
And what about the research accident?
If you were to think about it now, you wanted to change certain things: The most noticeable thing is the so-called furin cleavage site, the furin cleavage site, a genetic property of the virus' spike protein.
 
The furin cleavage site: With Sars-2, it ensures that the virus can better penetrate the human cell?
Yes exactly. So, let's imagine someone wanted to see what happens if you give a coronavirus this furin cleavage site that you know from influenza viruses: does it make it more malicious? For this I would take the Sars-1 virus, in a form that I can also change in the laboratory. So a DNA clone. Do you understand me?
 
We will try it. Explain it to us.
You can't just put a virus in a glass dish and do some kind of experiment with it. Building a DNA clone like this from a virus takes two to three years of molecular biological work. Incidentally, researchers actually made such clones from the original Sars-1 virus. So if you had wanted to develop a kind of Sars-2 in the laboratory, you would have added changes, for example this furin site, to such a Sars-1 clone. To find out, does this adaptation make the Sars virus more contagious? But that was not the case here. The whole backbone of the virus is different: Sars-2 is full of deviations from the original Sars-1 virus.
 
What does that mean: the whole backbone is different?
Let me explain it with a picture: To check, for example, whether adjustments make the virus more contagious, I would take an existing system, incorporate the change and then compare it with the old system. If I want to know whether a new car radio improves the sound, I take an existing car and replace the radio there. Then I compare. I'm not building a completely new car for this. But that's exactly how it was with Sars-2: The whole car is different.
 
And that means?
This idea of ​​a research accident is extremely unlikely for me because it would be far too cumbersome. The idea of ​​malicious use by some secret service laboratory somewhere: If anything, something like that would probably not come from the Wuhan Virology Institute. This is a reputable academic institute.
 
What is the most plausible for you?
Carnivore breeding. The fur industry.
 
Why?
I have no evidence for this, except for the clearly proven origin of Sars-1, and this is a virus of the same species. Viruses of the same species do the same things and often come from the same source. In Sars-1, this is scientifically documented, the transitional hosts were raccoon dogs and crawling cats. That’s assured. It is also certain that raccoon dogs are used extensively in the fur industry in China. If you buy a jacket with a fur collar anywhere, it is the Chinese raccoon dog, almost without exception. And now I can tell you that there are no studies in the scientific literature - none at all - that shed light on the question of whether raccoon dog breeding stocks or other carnivore breeding stocks, for example minks, carry this virus, Sars-2, in China .

long
https://www.republik...am-dieses-virus

Spanish Prime Minister Says People Vaccinated With Sputnik V Should Be Allowed Into EU
https://sputniknews....llowed-into-eu/
 

CARBIS BAY, England:

The United States will spend $3.5 billion to buy and donate 500 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to some of the world's poorest countries, it said on Thursday, urging other G7 nations to follow suit.

The vaccine donation - the largest ever by a single country - was announced before U.S. President Joe Biden meets leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies in western England.

The 500 million doses are destined for the world's 100 poorest countries. A senior Biden administration official described the gesture as a "major step forward that will supercharge the global effort" with the aim of "bringing hope to every corner of the world." "We really want to underscore that this is fundamentally about a singular objective of saving lives," the official said, adding that Washington was not seeking favours in exchange for the doses.

The Biden administration expects other G7 members to come up with contributions as part of a comprehensive road map to end a pandemic that has killed more than 3.9 million people, the official added.

U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech had earlier said they would provide 200 million doses in 2021 and 300 million doses in the first half of 2022.

The shots, which will be produced at Pfizer's U.S. sites, will be supplied at a not-for-profit price.

https://www.ndtv.com...nations-2460963
 

India has recorded the world's highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in a single day.

It announced a further 6,148 fatalities on Thursday - after the state of Bihar discovered 3,929 unreported deaths.

Bihar, one of India's poorest states, revised its death toll after being directed to by Patna High Court.

The court has been hearing a petition alleging that the number of deaths in the state has been under-reported and inconsistent during the country's second wave of COVID-19.
Advertisement

"All facts must be verified from all sources," the court's chief justice said.

Mangal Panday, Bihar's health minister, said: "We are open to revising the figures if people come forward with genuine papers. Our real intention is to help and not to hide anything. We are not ruling out some names that are still missing."

https://news.sky.com...itable-12329233
 

A man who was hired as a contract worker at a coronavirus vaccination site in Southern California was charged Wednesday with stealing more than 500 blank vaccine record cards from the site.

Muhammad Rauf Ahmed, 45, of Las Vegas, faces one count of grand theft, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

On April 27, detectives with the La Verne Police Department were alerted to a possible theft of blank COVID-19 vaccine cards by an employee at the county-run vaccination center at Fairplex in Pomona, California, the department said in a statement. During their investigation, detectives discovered a total of 528 blank vaccine cards in the man's car and hotel room.

Online booking records show Ahmed was arrested and released on April 27. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 25, the district attorney's office said.

According to police, Ahmed was a nonclinical employee who was hired on contract to work at the vaccination site.

In a statement provided to BuzzFeed News, the LA County Department of Public Health, which manages the clinic at the fairgrounds, said that when county staffers learned the suspect was "in unauthorized possession of vaccination cards," they questioned him and referred the issue to La Verne police.

"Public Health has extensive security measures in place which allowed for the quick identification of the theft and after this incident in April added additional protocols to prevent future thefts," the department said.

https://www.buzzfeed...d-theft-charges

[Midnightly]

Parents were allowed to bring their children with them to their vaccination appointments without booking an appointment when they lowered the age restrictions.  I received my first dose on the 22nd and saw a few families there.  

i fully get that people have been bringing in their youth when they get a vaccine...but it's the number.. i could fully see in the 30% maybe even up to 40% but when Bonnie Henry today says that youth 12-17 are 72% vaccinated it just seems a bit high

[Greg]

That sounds like the number for everyone over 12.

[Victoria Watcher]

Alberta Health Services has released Thursday’s report on COVID-19, covering statistics compiled over the last 24 hours.

 

178 cases were confirmed across the province, bringing the total to 229,949. Of those, 3,810 cases are active while 223,877 people have recovered.

 

 

 

 

https://lethbridgene...8-provincially/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 10 June 2021 - 02:28 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Another 153 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in B.C. and four more people have died of the disease, health officials announced Thursday, as they spoke of a "dramatic drop" in transmission in recent weeks.

 

 

 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/n...une10-1.6060435